Paint your chains!

[Fuddy1952]

Wednesday I lost chains pulling posts so today (after wasting a couple hours looking) I painted them. Every 2ft or so alternate chrome, fluorescent red, yellow. Won't be hard to find now!

 

[oosik]

I've lost parts in my lawn when doing repairs. AND - they are usually the "special" parts that you can't get at a hardware store.

About five years ago - I had it - 60 mile round trip to the Kubota dealer for two parts costing $4.95.

I went to the local SCUBA divers shop and got the VERY CHEAPEST metal detector they had - $89.

Now I can easily find anything dropped in the grass. Sure found a lot of other crap also - - mostly old rusty nails.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

A couple years ago I was cutting a tree on the edge of a hayfield. I stopped to change the chain and I dropped the nuts that hold the bar on into the hayfield. They vanished immediately. I went to the local repair shop and they said they were special nuts, have to be ordered from the manufacturer. I bought a cheap metal detector on Amazon for $50 and found them in a few minutes.

I don't always find what I'm looking for but it's paid for itself many times over.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Yes I just picked up this junk from along the old fence line with a magnet. We'll go over it several more times again.

Years ago I bought a nice Whites metal detector. I found Dad's wedding ring he lost. Across the road I was demonstrating it to my farmer friend and thought we found a treasure chest in his front yard! Digging down two feet or so there was about 20 sections of tin roofing someone had buried years ago.

 

[oosik]

Fuddy1952 - - if you would QUIT painting your chains green & tan - probably a lot easier to find. :dance1: :laughing:

 

[Fuddy1952]

Chains were the color of all that junk I found today with a magnet. 4 horseshoes...a crankshaft gear, over 100 nails, wire. Nothing good for horses or tires!

 

[stuckmotor]

A couple years ago I was cutting a tree on the edge of a hayfield. I stopped to change the chain and I dropped the nuts that hold the bar on into the hayfield. They vanished immediately. I went to the local repair shop and they said they were special nuts, have to be ordered from the manufacturer. I bought a cheap metal detector on Amazon for $50 and found them in a few minutes.

I don't always find what I'm looking for but it's paid for itself many times over.

Bar nuts are fairly cheap on ebay. I keep some on hand to fit both Stihl and Husquvarna.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I use one of these. But now that I'm thinking about it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a magnet with you. Just stick it in the tractor somewhere. Handy out in the field somewhere to stick parts to or finding a lost bolt.

 

[oosik]

Having a magnet out in the field - with you on the tractor - now that would probably be a GOOD idea. I drop stuff out there also. Actually - accidentally, I've dropped most everything except my shorts at one time or another. I know exactly the magnet I need. VERY powerful - quite small - easily stuck just about any place on a tractor for safe keeping.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Having a magnet out in the field - with you on the tractor - now that would probably be a GOOD idea. I drop stuff out there also. Actually - accidentally, I've dropped most everything except my shorts at one time or another. I know exactly the magnet I need. VERY powerful - quite small - easily stuck just about any place on a tractor for safe keeping.

It's also handy for holding parts while making adjustments or repairs and for carrying small tools.

 

[Fuddy1952]

A fishing magnet! They're powerful and have a loop for a rope. Like this one...a bunch of them on ebay, Amazon,etc.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Some of my short chains get painted just suspending something for painting. They are nicer to use after that and if yellow, show up nice on the ground.

 

[CADplans]

I got this, and cleaned EVERY one of my chains,, even the snow tire chains,,,

and,,, THEN I painted them,,,:thumbsup:

 

[Oaktree]

A couple years ago I was cutting a tree on the edge of a hayfield. I stopped to change the chain and I dropped the nuts that hold the bar on into the hayfield. They vanished immediately. I went to the local repair shop and they said they were special nuts, have to be ordered from the manufacturer.

What kind of saw do you have? Every chain saw I've ever had uses standard 5/16 nuts.

Never thought to paint a chain, but I do paint any tools I'd be likely to use in the woods in a flouresent color...ax, bow saw, etc. Saves a lot of "lookin'" time.

 

[stuckmotor]

I use one of these. But now that I'm thinking about it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a magnet with you. Just stick it in the tractor somewhere. Handy out in the field somewhere to stick parts to or finding a lost bolt.View attachment 580164View attachment 580165

I haven't seen the magnet I had stuck on the roll bar lately. It used to come in handy.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Dad was always going for walks and bringing stuff home. Some of my favorite short chains are car carrier chains that fell off. They have grab hooks but also neat cleats that go in the holes of almost every vehicle on the road. Handy if they don't have a place to hook a chain.

I actually never, ever carry long chains, just three or four of those short ones. Long chains are a PITA. If I really need a long chain, I will go get one, but it's rare.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Super handy is a canvas bag like this one I mounted on tractor under the seat using existing hardware, large washers on the inside. It's out of the way, hold lots of tools, gloves, rope etc. I'll add a fishing magnet to it.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I got this, and cleaned EVERY one of my chains,, even the snow tire chains,,,

and,,, THEN I painted them,,,

I have to know more about that tumbler!
Any trespassers I assume get a 15 minute ride in it?

 

[quicksandfarmer]

What kind of saw do you have? Every chain saw I've ever had uses standard 5/16 nuts.

Homelite. They are 5/16" thread but the head is the same size as the spark plug so you can use the spark plug wrench on them. I put regular 5/16 nuts on with a washer so I could use the saw until the metal detector arrived.

 

[CADplans]

I have to know more about that tumbler!
Any trespassers I assume get a 15 minute ride in it?

I bought it at a military surplus shop in Buchanan,, Thrasher Machinery,,,
I was gonna cut it open, and use it as a shop wood stove,, but, when I got it home, I plugged it in and it ran,,,
So, I have a giant tumbler that sits outside my shop,,

It will deburr/clean anything that will fit in the opening,,, there are two chambers and two doors,,
I seldom use both,,,
It is noisy!! but, the neighbors have not complained,,,, yet,,, :laughing:

(NOTE: do not tell anyone about Thrasher Machinery,, it is my secret source for all kinds of goodies!! )